Five ways to save in 2013

Here are five easy ways to save in the new year.

Abby and Wes Weaver, both of Allentown, show us how to make your own non-stick… (APRIL BARTHOLOMEW, MORNING…)

January 05, 2013|Spencer Soper | On The Cheap

We sure hope most of you are doing better with your New Year's resolutions than we are.

One of ours was to stop eating office goodies, which lasted for about 10 minutes after we got to the office on Wednesday. Those cookies and brownies kept calling our name.

But if you're looking to save money in 2013, we can be a bigger help. Here's our list of ways to save in the new year.

• Never buy cooking spray again: Abby Weaver in Allentown showed us how to make your own cooking spray, which is much cheaper than buying the stuff in a can. She got a spray bottle for less than a dollar and fills it with vegetable oil she buys in bulk. Estimated savings: $295.40 over 20 years.

• Electric-free coffee: If you're one of those folks who crisscrossed town in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, desperately looking for a place to get a cup of coffee, do yourself a favor in 2013. Go drop about $13 on a small camp stove and a can of propane. You'll have everything you need to brew your own coffee at home even when the power is out. No more driving all over town. No more lines. Estimated savings: $383.40 over 20 years.

• Cheap coffee flavoring: We got a great tip two years ago from Susie Beam in Nazareth that comes in handy this time of year. If you have candy canes left over, break them into quarters and use them to flavor your coffee or tea. It's a lot cheaper than buying expensive peppermint coffee flavoring. If you don't drink coffee, Susie suggests crushing the candies with a meat tenderizer and sprinkling the pieces on ice cream. Estimated savings: $113.80 over 20 years.

• Make your own dog treats: Joan Stangl-McGaughey in Bethlehem showed how to make your own dog treats, which she does for her dog, Isaac. Mash a ripe banana in a large mixing bowl and then mix in 32 ounces of plain or vanilla yogurt, two heaping tablespoons of creamy peanut butter and two tablespoons of honey. The mixture will fill 12, 5-ounce paper cups about three-fourths full. Put the cups in the freezer for a couple of hours. Once they're frozen, make a small slit in the top of the cup and peel it off. Your dog will love it. They're pretty tasty for people, too. Estimated savings: $436.80 over 20 years.

• Make your own makeup remover: Karen Newhard in South Whitehall Township sent us a great recipe for homemade eye makeup remover. Mixes a half cup of water, 1 teaspoon of baby oil and 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo. Pour into a small bottle and shake well before each use. Karen applies hers with cotton balls from her vitamin bottles. Estimated savings: $1,382.40 over 20 years.

Don't forget to vote for this year's Queen of Cheap. You can see the finalists and cast your vote at http://www.mcall.com/onthecheap. We'll close polling and crown a winner in a couple of days.